Where/When: American Legion Post 2, 835 South Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901 on Monday, May 4, 2015 @ 10:00.

Governor Jack Markell to Announce the Delaware Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness in 2015.

At 10:00 AM on Monday, May 4^th, at American Legion Post 2, Dover, DE, Governor Markell will gather state and local leaders together to announce the Delaware Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness in 2015. This is one of the goals the Governor included in his State of the State Address on January 21, 2015.

The Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness is an initiative begun at the suggestion of First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Jill Biden and organized under the auspices of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). USICH, in cooperation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), developed the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness in 2015, challenging mayors and community leaders throughout the nation to create new local initiatives to reach the goal of ending veteran homelessness in their communities. Since then, local initiatives have become active across the nation.

In October, 2015, Mayor Christiansen of Dover officially accepted the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness and he formed a working group of local volunteers to begin working toward the goals of outreach to identify homeless veterans; prevention of homelessness by promoting stable housing solution; and diverting veterans from temporary shelters to alternative housing arrangements and supportive services leading to permanent solutions. Mayor Christiansen asked the Vice Chairman of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs to lead the efforts of the working group. In collaboration with HUD, VA, Delaware State Housing Authority, Dover City Planner, Dover Housing Authority, Kent County Levy Court and a host of other federal, state and local agencies as well as local private shelters, veteran service organization, businesses and interested individuals, the Dover Working Group brought together volunteers for a training program based upon strategies being successfully employed in various locations throughout the country. Through that effort the volunteers organized the Dover Veterans Welcome Home Team with the specific goals designed to end veteran homelessness in Dover in 2015. The team meets regularly to review the status of cases for veterans they are assisting.

From this initiative, the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs and the Delaware State Housing Authority in conjunction with the Delaware Joining Forces Coalition have developed the Delaware Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness in 2015 and to assist local communities throughout the state to create their own local goals and initiatives to end veteran homelessness.

On May 4^th, Governor Markell will officially challenge state and local leaders to join the effort to end veteran homelessness in 2015.

Where/When: The Modern Maturity Center, Dover, DE on Monday, March 23, 2015 from 1:00 to 7:00 pm. The Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.

Attorney General Matthew P. Denn sent out a letter stating, ” The nationwide economic crisis across this country has shown some inprovement, but the crisis is not over. Many Delawareans continue to fight to stay in thier homes. That’s why the Delaware State Housing Authority and the Department of Justice have partnered to form the Delaware Homeowner Relief Initiative, as we continue to help Delawareans protect their most important investment – their home.”

Attorney General Denn encourages you to attend the next FREE housing workshops. You will have the opportunity to meet with mortgage lenders and servicers on-site (Please bring loan information and budget). There will be certified housing counselors and representatives from the Attorney General’s office and other agencies. The educational sessions will cover the ways to avoid foreclosure scams, Delaware Foreclosure Timeline, National Mortgage Settlement and current federal programs.

“No appointments necessary.” Monday, March 23, 2015 will be held at The Modern Maturity Center located at 1121 Forrest Ave, Dover, DE 19904. Loan servicers available from 1:00 to 7:00 pm. Educational session will be from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. Tuesday, March 24, 2015 location will be at The Chase Center on the Riverfront, 815 Justison Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. Loan servicers are available from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Educational session is at 5:00 pm.

For more information please visit: www.delawarehomeownerrelief.com or www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov. Email: Consumer.protection@delaware.gov, or call the Delaware Homeowner Relief Hotline: 1-800-220-5424 or Attorney General Matt Denn’s Foreclosure Prevention office: 302-577-8393/8378.

The Wilmington VA Medical Center (VAMC) now offers a free shuttle service for Veterans with medical appointments at the Wilmington VAMC in Elsmere, DE. The shuttle runs Mon. thru Thurs., excluding federal holidays.
“The shuttle will help a lot of patients who may need to be seen at a specialty clinic at the main facility,” said Ginny Yelland, VA spokesman. “It will relieve a lot of stress for veterans caused by driving long distances especially in heavy traffic. We are really pleased to offer this to area veterans.”
To be eligible to ride the free shuttle, veterans must first have a scheduled clinic appointment at the medical center, and they must call their primary care team scheduler in advance to make a reservation to ride the shuttle. Family members over the age of 16 may accompany veteran patients for scheduled clinic appointments. The shuttles are not available for family members to utilize to visit veteran inpatients.
The 16 passenger courtesy shuttle round-trip service departs from the Sussex County Community Based Outpatient Clinic, 15 Georgetown Plaza, Georgetown, DE at 8:30 a.m. and stops at the Kent County VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, 1198 S. Governors Ave., Dover, DE. The shuttle will depart from the Wilmington VAMC for the return trip at 2:30 p.m. returning to the Delaware Community Based clinics.
Veterans who have appointments at the Wilmington VAMC may schedule reservations on the shuttle by contacting their primary care team. Reservations are first-come, first-served.

Dover – The Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs will sponsor the 15th Annual Freedom 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, July 5, 2014, 9:00 AM, at Silver Lake Park in Dover. A Healthy Kids Run (kids 8 & under) starts at 8:55 AM. All proceeds will benefit the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund that provides assistance to Delaware’s veterans in financial crisis. The registration fee is $20 until June 28th, $25 after and on event day. Registration starts at 8:00 AM. Kiddie K race is FREE! Make checks payable and mail to Veterans Trust Fund, 2772 Hazlettville Rd, Dover, DE 19904. Contact Ray at 302-674-3213 or email: Races4u@TriSportEvents.Com. Register online at http://www.TriSportsEvents.Com.  Can’t make the race but would still like to support this event?  Register as a Silent Hero!  Unique awards for overall male, female and master’s winners and top 3 male & female runners in 10 year age groups starting with 14 & under, thru 70 & over.  5K walk awards for top 3 male & female finishers.  AWARDS to most patriotic male & female participants.  Ribbons to all Kiddie K finishers.  “Freedom 5K” tee shirts to all participants and volunteers.  Post race festivities includes free food and beverage.

The new Delaware Veterans Services Directory (VSD) has won recognition from a national eGovernment research institute for its innovative approach to providing services to an important segment of Delaware’s population.  The directory, which serves the more than 79,000 Delaware veterans and their families, was named a winner of a 2013 Digital Government Achievement Award in the Government-to-Business category by the Center for Digital Government.

Accessible at www.delaware.gov/vsd, the VSD is a state-wide online listing of public and private organizations offering services to Delaware veterans and their families.  It brings together a community of partners in a single, online portal that features links to employment services, housing services, medical services, and education services, among others. The VSD currently includes 48 organizations, with information ranging from general knowledge and social media links to informational videos.

“Veterans have served to protect us and we are obligated to do everything in our power to ensure they get the benefits and assistance they deserve,” said Delaware Governor Jack Markell. “The VSD is an innovative way to connect those in need of housing, healthcare, jobs and many other benefits with those organizations that have a passion to serve veterans. I want to personally encourage organizations to continue registering for free today and help us get the word out about the Veterans Services Directory.”

VSD users can search by geographic location and by types of services offered. The directory also offers quick links to important state and federal veterans’ agencies.  It provides an array of essential services for Delaware’s vast military community and simplifies the process of obtaining needed services for military veterans and their families.

“Military members, veterans and their families are entitled to numerous benefits. There are equally as many organizations working hard day in and day out to help those who committed to protect our way of life,” said Paul Lardizzone, Veterans Affairs Commission Chairman. “Our hope is that the Veterans Services Directory helps address a longstanding problem of connecting veterans in need to the organizations that can provide assistance.”

The VSD website was developed by the Delaware Government Information Center for the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs as part of Governor Markell’s push for a more efficient and effective government. The Government Information Center (GIC) helps meet this goal by developing applications and websites that are innovative, cost-effective, and easy to use. To contact the GIC, send an email to: gic@delaware.gov.

Contact: Tammy Stock at 302-857-3038 or tamara.stock@delaware.gov